Cape Town, South Africa – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced its growing commitment to support the City of Cape Town’s goal to become the most digitally connected city in Africa. USTDA will fund a detailed technical analysis to help the City strengthen its water resources management.

“The City of Cape Town has an ambitious infrastructure agenda, and USTDA is an ideal partner,” said USTDA Acting Director Thomas R. Hardy. “Our cooperation will help the City deliver world-class services using advanced ICT technologies that U.S. companies are eager to supply.”

USTDA’s funding will help the City assess the viability of new information and communication technology (ICT) investments that would allow for field data collection, near real-time monitoring and operations support. Through this assistance, USTDA is supporting the City of Cape Town as it uses technology to execute its digital strategy and optimize the management of major infrastructure. The technical analysis will be conducted by California-based ICT and infrastructure consulting firm Global Resources, Inc.

“Management of the City’s water resources is critical for our future prosperity and resilience,” said the Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Alderman Daniel Plato. “The further support of the USTDA will greatly assist us to choose the right technologies for advanced wireless monitoring of water supply and metering of consumption. We also recognize the importance of making the best possible use of the data that these systems generate; the project that the USTDA is funding will make sure that our information systems are up to the task. I am grateful for the relationship that the City of Cape Town has with the USTDA and the U.S. Consulate in Cape Town, and appreciative of their confidence that our work together will yield valuable benefits”.

“Today’s announcement will further strengthen Cape Town’s reputation as a destination for U.S. investment and engagement,” said Consul General of the U.S. Consulate General in Cape Town, Virginia Blaser. “The United States is already the number one foreign direct investor in the Western Cape, and I’m certain that today’s announcement will lead to deeper economic partnership.”

At the official ceremony in Cape Town, Consul General Virginia Blaser signed the grant on behalf of USTDA. She was joined by City of Cape Town Executive Mayor Daniel Plato.

This project supports Access Africa, a partnership between USTDA and U.S. industry leaders to develop high-quality ICT infrastructure across Sub-Saharan Africa. It also supports Prosper Africa, a U.S. government initiative to substantially increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and Africa.